Analysts, Policy Makers Support ATT/T-Mobile Merger
Given the stark difference between a merger with Sprint and a merger with AT&T, the proposed AT&T/T-Mobile merger is generating a broad and growing range of support from policymakers and analysts.
Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile's parent company, indicated multiple times that it was simply no longer willing to commit new capital to T-Mobile, and T-Mobile alone lacks the resources needed to develop a 4G LTE network. Sprint, the first serious suitor for T-Mobile, is a bad player when it comes to treating workers and a bad fit for network compatibility. Sprint has a long history of hostility to union organizing and trampling workers' rights, along with an extensive record of outsourcing and off-shoring American jobs. A Sprint/T-Mobile deal would not benefit America for many reasons, network incompatibility and the lack of capital for expansion among them.
As policy makers recognize the real choice: to support either a Sprint or AT&T merger with T-Mobile, increasingly they are endorsing the AT&T merger. Analysts, opinion leaders and policy makers are concluding that the AT&T/T-Mobile merger will help achieve increased broadband build-out, will strengthen worker protections and will deliver new jobs and grow the economy. The range of supportive voices bridges traditional political and ideological divides.
Among the new developments favorable to the proposed merger:
- Congressional support from across the Democratic caucus: A new sign-on letter from Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) in favor of the proposed merger — expected to be released today — demonstrates the growing support for the merger throughout the Democratic caucus. Members from the Blue Dogs to the Progressive Caucus, from the Congressional Black Caucus to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, have joined the sign-on letter, underscoring the numerous reasons why the merger is positive for the nation and districts throughout the country.
- Governors across political lines line up in support: As Politico's "Playbook" noted this week, 23 governors have endorsed the proposed merger, including leaders from across the policy and political spectrum.
- 96,000 reasons to support the merger — projected job creation: According to a recent study by the Economic Policy Institute, AT&T has committed to increase capital expenditures by at least $8 billion over the next seven years, which would create as many as 96,000 good, family-supporting jobs.
- Good for consumers and broadband goals in underserved areas: Projections show that the merger will dramatically expand high-speed broadband build-out to underserved areas, bringing coverage with all its advantages to 97% of the United States.
To hear more about why the AT&T/T-Mobile merger would be good for job creation and a range of key policy priorities, join a forum at the Economic Policy Institute on June 28th at 10 am.
Press Release, Office of U.S. Representative G.K. Butterfield
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